(Choose one or more)
| Cost From: | $4695 |
|---|
| Length: | 8 days |
|---|
| Activity: | Snorkeling, Wildlife & Natural History, Cultural Adventures, Small Ship Cruising |
|---|
| Difficulty: |
|
|---|
French Polynesia is the clear-cut choice for the best weather prospects, but land-based sites are scarce and most observers will opt for the mobility and increased viewing prospects on board a ship.J. Anderson—NASA Eclipse Meteorologist
By adding trips to your “Wish List” (above), you can easily make a side-by-side detailed comparison of as many trips as you like.
If you haven’t done it yet, now’s the time! A climb to the roof of Africa is a “high” in more ways than one, and you’ll celebrate your achievement with a fantastic wildlife safari in Africa’s Eden.
SPECIAL EVENT
A total solar eclipse is one of nature’s most dramatic phenomena, when the sun, moon, and earth are perfectly aligned and darkness washes over the earth in daylight. We invite you to experience this awesome event aboard the luxurious Paul Gauguin on the turquoise seas of the South Pacific. Our ship gives us the maximum flexibility to maneuver to the ideal viewing position on Eclipse Day and offers every comfort as we journey among Polynesia’s magnificent isles and coral lagoons. Astronomer Alex Filippenko, PhD, one of UC Berkeley’s most popular professors, will accompany us to share his expert knowledge—his 8th eclipse program with us!
Alex Filippenko, PhD, professor of astronomy at UC Berkeley, is a leading authority on supernovae, black holes, galaxies, and cosmology, and is actively working with the Hubble Space Telescope and the Keck telescopes. His team’s discovery of “antigravity” was named “Top Science Breakthrough of 1998” by Science magazine. He has coauthored over 560 publications and an award-winning textbook, and has produced video courses with The Teaching Company. Voted “Best Professor” by the UC Berkeley student body an extraordinary six times, Dr. Filippenko was named the Carnegie/CASE National Professor of the Year in 2006.
From $4695 per person, depending on cabin type
**Airfare is not included in Program Cost
July 6-13, 2010
This trip is currently sold out, but please call to be placed on the waitlist
Reading list, click here.
At Tahiti’s capital, Papeete, we board our vessel and depart for Raiatea, an ecological wonderland of spectacular waterfalls and deep lagoons. Raiatea is also the cultural heart of the Society Islands and known for its ancient archaeological sites (marae). Optional activities include explorations by 4WD vehicle among the island’s bamboo forests, mango trees, and ginger flowers; a tour of the famous marae of Taputapuatea, the sacred site where ancient Polynesian mariners embarked on their discoveries of Hawaii, New Zealand, and Easter Island; and an excursion by motorized outrigger canoe along the Faaroa River.
On tiny Taha’a, the “Vanilla Island,” we can beachcomb and relax on a sugary beach, drift-snorkel among rich coral gardens teeming with colorful fish, or visit a vanilla plantation and a black pearl farm to learn about these Polynesian treasures.
Glorious Bora Bora is the quintessential tropical paradise, with a necklace of coral motus (islets), enchanting valleys of hibiscus, and Mt. Otemanu rising up from its center. We can circle the island’s translucent blue lagoons by jet boat, snorkel in magnificent coral gardens, and explore the lush interior of the island by Land Rover or Le Truck.
On Eclipse Day, July 11, 2010, we will witness just over four minutes of totality, and the magnificent solar corona will be visible to the naked eye. From our location at sea southeast of Tahiti, we’ll maneuver to find the ideal position along the centerline of the path of totality to experience this amazing celestial event. The morning eclipse will begin with the sun at 11 degrees above the horizon, with totality occurring with the sun 26 degrees above the horizon. Our guest experts will be with us to guide us through this spectacular phenomenon.
Local contact times at approximate eclipse viewing location: 18°36' S 147°12' W
1st contact (eclipse begins): 7h 18m 41s
2nd contact (totality begins): 8h 30m 06s
3rd contact (totality ends): 8h 34m 07s
4th contact (eclipse ends): 9h 56m 15s
Duration of Totality: 4m 01s
In the turquoise waters surrounding enchanting Moorea, with its spectacular backdrop of impossibly green, sharp-edged mountains, we have the option to sail by catamaran, swim with stingrays, search for pods of dolphins and whales, or trek ancient trails to hidden open-air temples. Disembark at Papeete the early morning of July 13.
This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure
We partner with one of the world’s premiere cruise vessels: the Paul Gauguin, a six-star ship designed specifically for sailing French Polynesia. Our ship offers an extension of the informal environment of the islands, carrying only 330 guests and offering all ocean-view staterooms (more than half with private balconies), a choice of three open-seating dining venues, an extensive spa, and a 1 to 1.5 guest-to-staff ratio that provides a high level of personal attention. The ship’s watersports platform offers easy access to the blue Pacific so we can hop aboard a windsurfer or launch a kayak. The Paul Gauguin has been named one of the “World’s Top-Rated Small Ships” by Condé Nast Traveler readers since 1998.
Per person, double occupancy
| Categories | Cruise Price | Early Signup Price* | Discount |
| F Porthole Stateroom | $6,595 | $4,695 | $1,900 |
| E Window Stateroom | $6,895 | $4,845 | $2,050 |
| D Balcony Stateroom | $8,795 | $6,095 | $2,700 |
| C Balcony Stateroom | $8,895 | $6,145 | $2,750 |
| B Veranda Stateroom | $11,095 | $7,695 | $3,400 |
| A Veranda Suite | $13,895 | $9,295 | $4,600 |
| GS Grand Suite | $16,895 | $10,945 | $5,950 |
| OS Owner’s Suite | $21,995 | $13,795 | $8,200 |
Government Fees & Taxes (subject to change): $63 per person. Rates are per person based on double occupancy, in US dollars. Shore excursions are optional, and not included in cruise cost. Cruise ship fuel surcharges may apply.
*Early sign up rates apply to reservations confirmed by April 30, 2010
 Owner’s Suite Category OS 7002 Stateroom: 531 sq. ft. plus veranda
|
 Grand Suite Category GS Stateroom: 332 sq. ft. plus veranda
|
 Veranda Suite Category A Stateroom: 300 sq. ft. plus veranda |
 Veranda Stateroom Category B Stateroom: 249 sq. ft. plus veranda |
|
Some staterooms in these categories vary in size and have smaller bathrooms with shower only. |
Porthole Stateroom |
Singles/Triples: A very limited number of guaranteed single cabins are available in Category E at 150% of the double occupancy rate. Singles in all other categories are 200% of the double occupancy rate. A third person may be added to a double occupancy cabin in most categories, with the third person paying 50% of the double occupancy cruise fare. Call for availability and pricing.
Room Sharing: Participants traveling by themselves and wishing to share a cabin at double occupancy rates may request a roommate. We will do our best to match you with another single traveler. If this is not possible a forced single supplement rate of 125% of the per person rate for that cabin category will apply. Single travelers matched up by Wilderness Travel may be assigned to a cabin in Categories C, D, E or F, and you must be prepared to pay 125% of the rate for those categories in order to have your reservation confirmed.
Ambassadors of the Environment Youth Program: For guests who want to travel with their children or grandchildren, the Ambassadors of the Environment youth program is designed to give young people aged 9-17 a fun and enriching experience while onboard the Paul Gauguin. Young guests take part in games, film presentations, excursions in and out of the ocean, discussions and activities. Parents are encouraged to join the excursions. Additional cost is $269 per child.
Shore Excursions: A full program of optional shore excursions will be available at each port of call. These activities are not included in the cruise price and can be reserved and paid for aboard ship. Off-ship activities mentioned in the itinerary are presented only as examples and are at additional cost.
Cruise Includes:
Not Included: Air travel to and from Tahiti; departure taxes; pre- and post-cruise arrangements including additional hotel nights made necessary by airline schedule changes and other factors; airport luggage handling; premium shipboard beverages; shore excursions; costs of any medical immunizations; expenses of a personal nature such as passports & visas, laundry, etc; and highly recommended trip cancellation/medical insurance.
Reservation and Cancellation Policy: To reserve your place, please complete and mail a Wilderness Travel trip application along with a deposit of $1500. For immediate confirmation, call us at 1-800-368-2794 and charge the deposit to your Visa, Mastercard, or American Express credit card.
Note: The Payment Schedule, Cancellation Policy, and Single Supplement Policy for the Eclipse in Tahiti differ from the policy stated in our annual catalog for regular trips, and all terms and conditions in this brochure take precedence over the catalog.
Payment Schedule
| At time of reservation: | $1500 per person |
| October 6, 2009: | 50% of cruise cost |
| March 6, 2010: | Balance |
Cancellation Policy
| Minimum fee: | $500 per person |
| From October 6, 2009: | Deposits to date non-refundable ($1500 plus 50% of cruise cost) |
| From March 6, 2010: | 100% of amount paid |
If we are able to resell your cancelled cabin before March 6, 2010, you deposits will be refunded less the minimum cancellation fee of $500 per person. Cancellations must be in writing by email, fax or mail. We reserve the right to treat the reservation as cancelled if payments are not received when due.
Air Travel to Tahiti & Add-on Hotel Packages: Airfares to Tahiti and additional hotel nights in the islands will be available through Paul Gauguin Cruises.
Responsibility: Wilderness Travel, Inc., Paul Gauguin Cruises, their owners, and/or their agents (hereinafter the Operators) assume no liability for failure to provide the services and accommodations referred to in this brochure to the extent that such services and accommodations cannot be supplied due to delays or other causes beyond the control of the Operators. Wilderness Travel and Paul Gauguin Cruises have signed an agreement for the partial charter of the Paul Gauguin, however the agreement will not take full effect until March 31, 2009 and until that time reservations for this program cannot be guaranteed. In the unlikely event that this program cannot be operated for any reason, whether due to the charter agreement failing to take effect or to other reasons which are beyond the control of the operators, the refund of all payments received shall release Wilderness Travel, Inc. from any liability. In the absence of negligence on the part of the Operators, the cruise participant agrees that the Operators have no responsibility or liability of any nature whatsoever for damage to or loss of property, or injury to, or death of persons due to any act, omission or negligence of any carrier, hotel, restaurant, bus carrier, tender service, sightseeing company, or any other persons rendering any of the services or ground portions of the itinerary. The cruise participant further waives any claim against the Operators for any such damage, loss, injury, or death. The Operators shall not be responsible for any delays, substitution of equipment, or any act or omission whatsoever by the suppliers of such services, their agents, servants, and employees, and the cruise participant hereby waives any claim arising therefrom. The Operators reserve the right to decline and/or accept any cruise participant at any time. The Operators expressly reserve the right to omit or substitute any scheduled port or shore excursion at any time for any reason whatsoever without prior notice. In the event of such an omission or substitution, no liability will inure to or be held against the Operators. All itineraries are subject to change without prior notice. All astronomers named in this brochure are confirmed at the time of publication. If any speaker must cancel, Wilderness Travel will attempt to provide, but cannot guarantee, a suitable replacement. Operators reserve the right to take photographs during the operation of any portion of the cruise or associated tours, and to use the resulting images for promotional purposes. All schedules, air fares, and cruise/land costs are based on rates at the time of printing and are subject to change without notice. Vessel Deck plan is not to scale.
A Note About Fuel: In the uncertain, often volatile oil market of late, it is difficult to predict fuel costs over the long term, and more specifically, at the time of the voyage. Our prices are based upon the prevailing fuel rates at the time of the brochure printing, which is well in advance of departure. While we will do everything possible to maintain our prices, if fuel prices increase significantly at/before the time of the voyage, it may be necessary to institute a fuel surcharge.
